Randy

You guys are very helpful. Thanks! I'm afraid I'm booked the weekend of the Twin Cities show. I'd love to come, though! -Randy

If I can impose on you with a follow-up question, what pure reference book should be my first purchase to go along with these "pretty" volumes?

I went ahead and ordered all four books mentioned here. 100 Masterpieces was $60 used on Amazon and the other three totaled $75 new, so I figured I couldn't lose. I haven't received Sinclaire, yet, but the others are very nice. 100 Masterpieces is viable as a coffee table book in our academic household, but it is not as "accessible" as the others, maybe. I'm very impressed with the Compton collection. Do you guys know if his pieces are displayed anywhere? I'm not very far from Elkhart at all... I didn't catch that Lethal Elegance was fittings only (my primary interest is blades), but it is very nice. It has, actually, depressed me a bit. I had thought that I could probably look hard and find a couple of $200-ish tsuba and not too expensive fuchi/kashira that would be representative for me and make me happy--but now I'm realizing that I will never be happy with pieces I can afford... Art of the Samurai is superb. It has gorgeous photos and would interest anyone, I think. Thanks for the good advice, guys. I think my wife will accept that these objects or art are worth spending some money on if I go to the Chicago sword show...but I think she will not be as impressed by anything I'm actually likely to bring home as a beginner!

I've been lurking here for a while, and this is my first post. My apologies in advance if I have missed the answer to my question elsewhere--I'll gladly follow a link if you have one. I've seen a lot of recommendations for reading material, but I wondered if you guys could suggest a book list that would impress my wife... I'm looking to get a few books to start reading up on nihonto blades and fittings, and while I want good information, I also want really good, beautiful pictures. I think I need at least one "coffee table" -type book with big glossy photos that will help my wife understand what I see in these cold, steel instruments of dismemberment. It's not just that I want her blessing to spend money on swords. I want her to share at least some of my enthusiasm, and appreciation for them. ...and I want her to approve of my spending money, too, of course! I don't want to just go looking for a book with pretty pictures because I know how worthless some (most) coffee table books are for those seeking actual enlightenment on the topic! Books I could obtain through Amazon would be ideal How would advise me? Thanks in advance! -Randy D.